Explain why honeybee workers are produced from fertilised eggs while drones are produced from unfertilised eggs.
Answer
Workers are diploid from fertilised eggs; drones are haploid from unfertilised eggs.
The correct answer is Workers are diploid from fertilised eggs; drones are haploid from unfertilised eggs. — Thus workers arise from fertilised eggs; drones from unfertilised eggs.
Step-by-step solution
- Recall haplodiploid system of bees: fertilised eggs become diploid, unfertilised become haploid.
- A fertilised egg receives sperm, forming two sets of chromosomes – diploid – giving a worker.
- An unfertilised egg receives only the queen’s chromosomes – haploid – giving a drone.
- Thus workers arise from fertilised eggs; drones from unfertilised eggs.
Common mistake: Assuming all bees are diploid
Concept tested: Haplodiploidy in bees
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
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